Apparatus for cleaning carpets and the like.



M. S. WRIGHT. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GARPETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1914.

Patentd Sept. 1, 1914.

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M- s. WRIGHT-J APPARATUS r03 CLEANING QARPE'IS AND THE LIKE. APPLIUATIOH IIILEDHAY'QQ, 1914. 1,109,497, Patented Sept. 1,1914,

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M. S. WRIGHT. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GARPEIS AND THE LIKE.-

APPLIUATION FILED MAY29,191 4. Patented Sept. 1 1914.

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MORRIS S. WB' IGHT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGN DR TO'M. WRIGH T UQMPAFIY, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CAR-PETS AND THE .IJIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Continuation of application Serial No. 630,726, filed June 1, 1911. This application'filea May 29, 1914.

' Serial No. 841.737

Be it known that ii, .hllonms S. \VRIGHT, a

citizen of the Unitml States, residing at lvorcestcr, in the county of Worcester and State oi lllassachusetts. have invented certain new and useful IDliMUVfilllfillllS m'Apparatus' for Cleaning Carpets andthe like, of' which the following is a specification, retorence being drawing. This invention relates to an improved apparatusforcleaning carpets and dust laden surfaces, and more particularly to an appahad therein to the accompanying 'ratus of this character wherein is employed adust receiving'chamber and'vacuum creatng means in operative association therewith for drawing dust, dirt. etc., into said chambe'r,'b y suction, I

"A. primary object of'the invention is to provide'a novel apparatuso'f the character described,- portable in character, easily manipulated, efiicient inoperation and strong and durable in use.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the parts thereof are closely assembled, and combined,

thereby taking up a minimum amount of space, and'renderingthe device especially applicable for operation in confined places. such as beneath a bed or other furniture.

Also the improvements embody a novel construction and arrangement of vacuum creating means, and operating mechanism *for the latter. actuated by the supporting wheels, at the rear end of the apparatus.

It is also contemplated by the invention I to provide a removable dust inlet head or nozzle part of the dust receiving or vacuum chamber, and novel means of connection for the same. I

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow which. for a clear understanding of the invention, should be con sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings. forming apart hereof. and wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, convenient andsatisfa'ctory embodi-' ments of'theinvention. It is to be noted,

-in this connection, that minor changes in.

the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit'of'the' inventionior the principle of operation of the various parts.

In the drawings':-Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of the machine with one form of-dust inlet head appliedthereto; Fig. 52 is a transverse section of the machine; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. l is a front end elevation of the dust inlet head in position on the machine, andlFi 5 is a vertical section of the a pp'aratus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof. 1 is-the bottom wall of a casing. 2 the top wall thereof. 3 an end wall, and l a transversely extending "partition dividing the'casing into what may be called adust receiving or vacuum cliam berm), and a wheel chamber 6. The top wall 2 of said casing'is provided with one or more openings 7 adjacent the partition wall et at the rear end of the dust receiving chamber. there being one of said openings for each of the vacuum creating means. conveniently pneumatics or pumps about tobe described. The said PlllllPS'QflCll' comprise an elongated bottom wall 8. having an open ing 9 communicating with the openings 7 of the vacuum chamber, and said bottom wall rests upon thetop wall :"I-of the easmanner. The said bottom wa'll-ofthe pump is preferably of a length to overlie both the vacuum chamber and wheel chamber.-

- 10 is a movable wall for the pump, the

tends to hold the-.ivalve in position.

9 a i: ima

mg and is secured thereto'in any desired same being hingedly connectcdin any de more efficient bellows, and more compact maevided with anopening 15 leading to the -chine ismadel ossibleg I I outside and positioned over-said opening is Since the w eels 21 are adjacent the ,rd- 4 a valve 16, which latter conveniently takes j oining or inner edges of the pumps, the ap- 5 the form of'a flexible member secured "at one pa-ratus is made compact, and at'the same end by screws 17 ,to 'said wall 10, and. time the close association of said wheels e'on- 1 spring lield to its seat as by a spring or stitutes them in elfect a single hearing at the spring members 18 secured at "one end to rear of the apparatus, substantially midway said wall and at their opposite end to of its sides. This constitutes animportant 10 the free. end of-saic'l member'16. A guide feature of the invention in that it renders 75 19 may be provided'to overlie the valve; the device applicable to floor's or carpets Suitable nieam, are provided forlimiting which are uneven,-'the bearing provided by the inward movement of the movable'wall said wheels permitting the nozzle, to be d'e- 10, the same preferably including what may scribed, at the forward 'end'of the machine} be termedu stop pin 29 secured to the top 2- to lie' clos'eto the-floor from end to end, so of the casing and having an offset head 20 thereby resulting in greater eflicien'cy than adapted to engage withinm recess 20? in the would be the case'were the nozzle tilted by movable top 10 when the latter isin lowered side wheels at the rear of the apparatus runposition, B prq iding .t-he recess,v the opning over unevensurfaces. 7

a pcsite walls S'and lO"of'the'pump may as- The apparatus is portable in character, sumo positions close to oneanother, while at and movement is.conveniently imparted by. the same time direct contact is prevented. what may 'be called a push handle 34 having 7 For the pi 1r poseof illustration two pumps a bifurcated lower end 'the opposite arm s'35 or neumatics are .shown, the same being of'which are pi'vota-lly connected as by bolts 2.5 separated from one an'otherfa sufficient dis; '36 with the-side walls of he casing. Means 90 I fence for the operating connection to be are provided for normally hblding the said presently referred to. j handle in an elevated position, whichsaid Suitable wheels 21 areprovided which are means-includes a bracket 'arm' or rod 37 ,ropreferably solid as shown, and have friction tatably mounted adjacent the-opposite ends K surfaces 22, which maybe formed by proinsuitable bearings 38 secured toa remov- .viding a corrugated rubber tread for saidable cover adapted to. inclose the pumps.

wheels. i The; said rod has ofiset terminals 3.9 which in 23 "are shafts'one .for each wheel, the same the elevated positio'n of said bracket constibeing mounted inllbearings 23 secured td the tut'e supporting rests engaging-the arms 35 casing, and thein'ner terminals ofsaid shafts o the handle.) 1 As'stated, this red 37 is roo passing through apertures-in the wheels 21. tatably mounted,v whereby the arms may 'be The wheels are conyenien'tly securedato their lowered as desired,- when the apparatusis respective shafts as by a pin 24; whi passes not in use, or whe it is desired to position through an, elongated opening 25 in the" the handle below t en'ornial upright vposi wheel and through' a'n opening extending tion, there by rendering the apparatus capa'-- o transverselythroughtheshaft 23, v, .blefof opera'tin over coyered surfaces, such The pumps are preferably actuated by asthe floor beneath a bed or other article 'of- 'suitable operati've connections with the tracfurniture, "The connection between the rod. tion'.wheels 21," as follows -."-26 is a pitman- 37 and the bearing 38 issuch as" to friction- 45 rod, "there being-onefor-eachpump and seally hold the arnis in upper position 'andacured at their upperehds to the sides of the, suitable stop LO-may be 'provided f o1- limit-"-' rear end of-the niovable wall 10 of the pump. ing the "downward movement of' the arms The-wheels are provided, withIa transverse 39. VVhe'ii saidarms -are in elevated position opening'28.through-whichlpassesiasupport so as to hold the-handlein its raisedposi- 5o in-g bracket, orflwhat may be termedstub tion', said arms; constitute an effective and- 5.

sha-ft'29, which'latt er is securedsto the wheel substantial ,supporb for the handle dui'ing a byvprovidingan opening 30 which fits itbdpushingof the machineby'thef' operator, qverthe pin 24 before referred to. rods and at the same time should it be desired to '26 are-loosely sleeved at their. lower ends elevate the forward endof the machine,- so

' .up0n"said.st11b sh'afts'2 9 and at th'eir'upper -as to go'over the edge of a-carpet, a rugor "1gp ends up'dnpin's 27 projecting from thewalls the like, by imparting downward pressure;

- 10. The-,rods 2 6 are connected one to vthe "on the handlelwhich Willbe resisted by the other at their. lowerfend's b'ya'link rod 31 arms .39 the-forwardend of the. apparatus sleeved?ilpon-projectingends31* ofthe stub may be r'aised- I szhafts"29,.,with the resilltthat while the mov I The vacuum chamber}. 5'has'an'open-11ig at; 5, abl'e'wall of one of the pumps is'elevated the its forward; end, andpositioned in said movable wall o'fthe opposite pump is chamber is a removable dust receiving and lowered. A By .the particular constructionfiltering bag 43 7 and-arrangement of bellows and operating The dust receivinginlet he ad or nozzle connections at the sides thereof, a larger an .member maytake 'variou's' forms', one of a The movable wall 10 of the pumps is pro- M11 11 is described, for the purpose of illus-- tration, and-being preferably removable, as

,occasion demands In the form of head illustrated, it will be observed that the same isof-asize and shape to it over the front end ofthe casing and has projecting pins or dowels 44 adapted to fit within'reccsse's 'u- 1n-any:des1red manner. A washer or dia-.

in aoolla-r or wall 43 constituting. a frame surrounding the open mouth at the front end of saidba 43:. and secured to the latter phragin 43" overlies the inner surface of the -open end of the-bag 43 and is'outwardly e31.- tended at its edge 43 whereby to overlie the edge of the bag and the edge of the bag frame 43* as well as the edge of the front end of the casing, as more particularlyillustrated in Fig. 1. It will be appreciated that the washer or diaphragm constitutes a protecting medium for the edge of the bag. at

"its .onen end. and also constitutes-'21. packing between the frame of the bag and the inner surface .of the nozzle member 45. 1 The spring being free as shown.

'35 adjacent the bottonr thereof i's'a suit-able washer or diaphragm furtherprovides 'apacking. between the end of the casing and the inner surfacemf the nozzle member.- The dust receiving-"or nozzle head 'part 1s given the numeral 45. One or more how spring members 46 are secured at their up per ends as at 46 to the 'collanor wall 43". the body part of the springs beingadapted to yieldably engage projections 47 on the sides of the casing, the opposite endsof said a recess in the forward wall of tlie ihead bufi'en convenientlyof felt 48. which constitutes the. foremost part of the apparatus, whereby furniture and the like wil-lbe protected, The bodj*;1)art of the "head 45"is provided with an 'inlet opening 49 comniunicating' with the open end of the'casin thereby constituting a passageway to the interior of the bag 43. Secured'adjacent the upper end ofsaid head 45, asby screws 50, are one or more bow spring members 51-, the spring members being bent outwardlyat their lowerfends '51 to suitably engage over the front surface of the hcad45; The spring members are also provided intermediate their 'ends with a bent 'part or recess 51* constituting a receiving pocket for alocking member carried bv the casing.

This locking member-conveniently takes the form of a U-shaped hail, the opposite arms 52 of which are pivotally mounted on the sides of the casing at 5:2- anda-connecting arm 53 being adapted. when in lowered or lacking position, toengage in the pockets or receiving recesses 51 of the spring members: A suitable stop 54 ma v be provided for limiting the lowering movement of thebail.

'From' the construction described, it will be observed that the nozzle or head "is rocking the bracket member-on its .pivots 52, swinging the same upwardly to "release the head and downwardly to lockthe latter in position. "When the nozzle member is in position. the packing interposed between the 70 nozzle. member and endof'the casing will' be compressed, and saidpacking. is of "a' length to overlie the front 'edgeof the casf .ing, whereby, when the nozzle member ,is' in position, the packing will be compressed and maintain an airtight joint between these parts. The novel means -for'supp orti ng the nozzle member inposition is an important characteristic of the invention. It is 'neces-' sary that the nozzle member be removed, and replaced, repeatedly for discharging .the dust, and by the employment of the spring fastening means this; replacement ,may be readily accomplished and at all times ensure a uniform and tight joint between the nozzle member and casing.

The nozzle member preferably has a reinfor'ccdunouth piece A, in the form of acap, frictionally held in place, whereby it may be removed and replaced, as desired. The capis preferably constructed of steel and may have a nickel plated face. The cover for the casing is'prcferably formed of sheets of. veneer. the top part B being bent at opposite ends to form a front B, and back B",

and connected t'o the sides 13*. 'l liis makes a light and cheaply. constructed cover, and one which 1s durable as well as'plcasing 1n Arranged in appearance.

In operation, the operatorgrasps the han- 109 die 43, and imparts back andforth movement to the apparatus, over, the. surface .to be cleaned, and the double acting bellows, by reason of their connection with the drive wheels, maintain a continuous vacuum-in the 10.5 dustchamber. The dust laden air passing through the nozzle member into. the dust chamber is filtered by. the bag positioned within said chamber, and the filtered air finds an outlet int) the pump, through the 110 opening 7 and to the outside through'the opening 15. "Since the, opening 7is positioned at the rear of the bag, the ba will not'bc' drawn up into the opening 7, due to the suctiomthus, if dcsired,-doing away with 11's the necessity of a screen or the like for pre-' venting the bag finding-a sea't'in said opening'7. However, a screen 70 may be'emplovcd. to overlie said opening 7,'si! ce without such screen should the filtering bag be accidentally left out ofi th'e apparatus.- and the pumps cpcrated."the-pumps would be flooded with dust. I

Var'ous matters shown and described inthis a iplication, and not claiincd herein, are reserved for claiming in co pendingapplications, or divisional applicationsto be suhse= quently filed.

I claim readily assembled and removed simply by 1.. In a device of the character described,

.- open end chamber. ,a nozzle member at the "the combination of abox-like "casing having,

; able-nozzle memb the casing-and having its free outer end ex- 1-, ding crosswise} oi. the: frame: and. adapted asdivision wall-intermediate its'end'sand'iin v constitutingaforward end ofthe -casin e chamber, 'suc-- 5. -'In a device of-theicha-racter described,- the combination with a, casing having a vacuumuchamber 4th "einandmeansfor creating. a .vachum in; the chamber, of a- 'remov atthe;nd of-lthe chamher having a."- p;1nra1ity .ofbo\v shaped sprin s thereon,- a,' bail member secured to;

to engage ,the how she led s rings, atnd'fa filtering hag associate Wit the nozzle' member and locatednvithin theichamlzfer.

In "a device ofthe character described, .the combination With a casing having a vacu- -e losnr'e 'for't-heopemend of t tion bellows. mounted upon the'top of the urn chamber therein, with an open end, and r casmgianel extending from adjacent the for means .for creating a .vecuu'in' 1n the c'ham 'w;1rd end: to a, point "adjacent the'rea-r end "ber,-of'a nozzlemember fashioned tofit over thereof beyondthe'saidpartition; sa-i'd belthe open end to form-amlos'ure therefor, 'a lous communicating with thechamber, trac filterbag located within the "chamber; and

' flion driving means "secured on the casing'at having an open end adjacent the nozzle; the-rear 'of the partition beneath "the rear; member, said open end being provided vv'i'th endsof the-bellows and pitman connections *a Surrounding frame, andfmeansforlvield from the. driving means 'to';the sides of the ingly pressing the Said-"b'agTrame against bellows ,substantially as'describ'ed. the nozzle member, and yielding-means" 2. 111 a device ofthepharadterdescribed, f rl-pre ei g he I Z Ie membenuniformly. the combination with; a casing having :1 against 1e casing and for retaining the"n,0z vacuum chamber therein and-Ia removable- Z18 inelh erin its" posi-ti0i1. l ZI'Z'. l

nozzle'inember atthefront of the vacuum; 7.'-I n,a'deviceof the aha-rapier. described, c chan'iber', of-sucti on means Comprising bel- .theipombinatienjwitli-a," casing having an'j lowsmounted on the top of the casi'ng,'-.s aid. 'openfendeld vacuum; chamher t herein, hind;

. bellows-extending from a p'ointadjacent' the meansi'forcreating! alvacmim in :the 'cha'm- :front; to a ip'oint adjacent; the] rear of the her, ofa'nokzle member'forclbsing the. open casing, tractiondriving means located -beend ofthelchamber, a'U-shapdba-il secured neath. the rearQehd ofthe bellows, and pit" on the casing and extending across the noz-' manconnectionshetweenjthe'bellows and the le, and means on' the"'face .qf thenozzle drivingmea'ns and-llcc'ated to operate-at the member with which the bail en'ga'g's for sides of the bellows. securing the nozzle member in posit on-on' ;3.,-'In adevice-o-f the 'character d escribed; the. casing, ,and' filter bag Within the casi'ng the combination ,With a-ca'sing having 'a' having an open end supported 'adj acent'the' '5 vacnumchambert-herein'and means for cre-' nozzle member. '1' atin'g a vacuum-in the chamber, of 'arremov 8 In a. device of the character. described}; able nczzlememberat't-he end of the charm the combination with 'cas'ing" having fan ber, means for securing the n'ozzle .mernb'erv open ended vacunniehamber, niea'ns for on the-chamber comprising a swinging memw creating a i'faculnn' in. the chamber, of .a' not" 0 ber a spring-coac'ting with-the'swinging' zlememb for closin' said op'nencLmeans member-to normally hold the nozzle member for detachably' seem-i igdthe nozzle 'i'nen1bmuniformly in tight contact with the walls'of in position airopencn'chfilter bag 'fithin the opening in the casing; and a filtering bag the-chamberhavinga surroundingframe at having'anopenymouth with-a surrounding its openen'chjand a washer on the frame hav-' 5 .fi ame,v and means forholding the frame in ing its outer edges extending between the-" air tight contactwith the nozzle member. nozzle member and the edges of -the frame 4.1m adevice of the -charac'te"rdescri bed,- and .ponsti'tuting' a packing between the" -the corrjbination'favith a fcasing having a; frame and 'nozzleinember and -also a pro- 'vacuumiichamber'fand-means 'for-creatin "a tecting'-covcring for the edges' f the filter-' d vacuum in the chamber, olfja nozzle mem er bag. l '1 detachably positioned -'at 'theend! of. the c 9, In a device of'the' characterdes ribed', vacuum chamber; 'and'ca-rfyihg a curved the combination vitha casinghavi 1g an spring member,- a'bail secured to the casing open ended vacuum chamber. means for {and projecting across 'the front of the nozzle creatinga vacuum inthe chamber. of 'a 1162- 5 member intoengagement with the spring zle member for closing-said open end, moans member; and a lteri'ngf bag in the. vacuum for detachably securing the nozzle'mcmbe'r (-hamberfhaving-aframe-member at its for in p'osition', -an.0penend filter bag within ward o'pe'nend, and. means foriholding the the chamber having. a surrounding frame at framemeniberinposition within the vacuum its open end. and a washer 'on the frame-120,;

' chamber." having its outeredgesextendingoutwardly and overlying the edges of the front/end of the casing, 'the said washer constitntingfa packing between the frame of the' bag'and" the nozzle member and between the edges of the wall of the ca'sing'and the nozzle ,1: member, and forming azprotecting' covering for the edges of the filter beg.

1o. Ina deviceof the character described;

a heir-like easing forming a: vacuum chem-1130- ber, vacuum creating, means, said casing having an open side, a removable nozzle member having a dust inlet opening and constituting a closure for said open side of the casing, and means for holding the nozzle member in position on the casing by constant spring pressure.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having an opening at one end,.vacuum creating means, a removable nozzle member to engage over said opening and constituting a closure therefor, the said nozzle member having an opening in its lower edge, means for supporting said nozzle member in position, said means includmg anelongated bOW spring arm connected at one end to the outer surface of the nozzle member adgacent lts upper edge and tree at its opposite end to engage said outer surface, and amovabl'e locking'device carried by the casing and engaging said arm.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having an opening at one end, vacuum creating means, a removable nozzle member to engage over said opening and constituting a closure for said openin the nozzle member having an opening 111 its lower edge, means for supportmg said nozzle member in position, said means including an elongated bow spring'arm connected at one end to the outer surface of the nozzle portion of said armand. properly position the nozzle relative to. the surface and retain the same in closed relation with the'casing.

13. In a device of the character described the combination with a casing having an open ended vacuum chamber, and means for creating a vacuum in the chamber, of a nozzle member for closing the open end of the chamber, a substantially U-shaped nozzle securing bail pivoted at thesides of the casing and adapted to swing into a position overlying the front of the nozzle member, and bail engaging means on the nozzle member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MORRIS S. WRIGH'I. lVitnesses G. L. IIABERLIN, F. G. DEE.

-,the casing and adapted to engage the recess 

